Layered liquid laundry detergent with colored bottom layer

Abstract

A liquid detergent composition comprising at least two layers, with a surfactant, a transition metal inorganic electrolyte, water and optionally other ingredients distributed within the layers. In the inventive compositions at least one of the layers (the bottom electrolyte layer) is colored. Preferred compositions include a dye in the surfactant layer, so that the compositions contain at least two layers, with two distinct colors. Preferred compositions are transparent and are packaged within a transparent container.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A liquid laundry detergent composition contained within the water-soluble body for release upon the dissolution of the water-soluble body, the composition comprising: 
 at least two layers, said at least two layers comprising in total: 
 i. from about 5 to about 90% of a detergent surfactant; by weight of the composition;  
 ii. from about 5 to about 50% of a colored inorganic electrolyte, by weight of the composition; and  
 iii. from about 1 to about 85% of water, by weight of the composition.  
   
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a hydrotrope.  
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a dye.  
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the detergent surfactant in the composition comprises a mixture of an anionic and a nonionic surfactant.  
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 4 , wherein the ratio of the anionic surfactant to the nonionic surfactant is from about 10:1 to about 1:10.  
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the volume ratio of the first layer to the second layer is from about 10:90 to about 90:10.  
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is packaged within a transparent container.  
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is transparent.  
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a third layer.  
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the third layer is a layer of capsules or emulsion.  
     
     
         11 . A liquid laundry detergent composition comprising: 
 at least two layers, said at least two layers comprising in total: 
 i. from about 5 to about 90% of a detergent surfactant; by weight of the composition;  
 ii. from about 1 to about 50% of total electrolyte, by weight of the composition, the electrolyte comprising a colored inorganic electrolyte and another electrolyte selected from the group consisting of an additional inorganic electrolyte, organic electrolyte, and mixtures threreof, and  
 iii. from about 1 to about 70% of water, by weight of the composition.  
   
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 11 , wherein the composition further comprises a hydrotrope.  
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 11 , wherein the composition is transparent.  
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 11 , wherein the composition is packaged within a transparent container.  
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 11 , wherein the electrolyte comprises from about 0.001 to about 10% of the colored inorganic electrolyte.